A Note for Parents

Our team of PJ Our Way professionals puts great thought into each month's selections. These books span a range of interests and reading levels, however, we cannot guarantee that every book is the right fit for every child. Each month, this blog will include updated parent information including summaries, discussion points, and content warnings for every title we offer.

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Thirteen year-old Sacha Kessler is the Jewish Harry Potter of the Lower East Side.

The Inquisitor’s Apprentice presents an alternative, magical reality with the colorful backdrop of turn-of-the-century New York. Neighborhoods like the Lower East Side, the Bowery, and Chinatown are not only divided along ethnic and class lines, but also according to magical skill and expertise, and they are policed by the Inquisitor Squad (a special division of the NYPD dedicated to monitoring magical crimes). Because of his unusual ability to detect magic, Sacha finds himself apprenticed to Maximilian Wolf, New York’s most powerful inquisitor. Sacha is joined by the wealthy and privileged Lily Astral (based on the famous Astors), and together they attempt to identify the person trying to murder Thomas Edison. As Lily and Sacha fit the pieces of this magical puzzle together, they meet Harry Houdini, Teddy Roosevelt, and the cunning and sly Wall Street Wizard, J.P. Morgaunt.

What the Book is About:

Thirteen year-old Sacha Kessler is the Jewish Harry Potter of the Lower East Side.

The Inquisitor’s Apprentice presents an alternative, magical reality with the colorful backdrop of turn-of-the-century New York. Neighborhoods like the Lower East Side, the Bowery, and Chinatown are not only divided along ethnic and class lines, but also according to magical skill and expertise, and they are policed by the Inquisitor Squad (a special division of the NYPD dedicated to monitoring magical crimes). Because of his unusual ability to detect magic, Sacha finds himself apprenticed to Maximilian Wolf, New York’s most powerful inquisitor. Sacha is joined by the wealthy and privileged Lily Astral (based on the famous Astors), and together they attempt to identify the person trying to murder Thomas Edison. As Lily and Sacha fit the pieces of this magical puzzle together, they meet Harry Houdini, Teddy Roosevelt, and the cunning and sly Wall Street Wizard, J.P. Morgaunt.

Jewish Content and Values

Mishpoche(a Yiddish term for family): Apart from the magical elements, Jewish life on Hester Street in the Lower East Side is accurately depicted. Large families live in small and decrepit tenements, yet there is warmth, good conversation, and familial loyalty. Jewish holidays like Hanukkah and Shabbat are celebrated.

Kosher(foods that conform to Jewish dietary law): While Lily enjoys New York street food, Sacha avoids eating anything that might not be kosher.

Relationship with God: When Sacha meets Rabbi Mendelson, he realizes that “there was something very odd in the way Rabbi Mendelson talked about God. People on Hester Street treated God like a member of the family.”

Kabbalah: Sacha’s grandfather is an expert in kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). When Sacha wants to destroy the dybbuk (ghost) he uses kabbalah to help him.

Anti-Semitism: Sacha notices that the advertisement for Thomas Edison’s invention demonizes magicians and is evocative of anti-Semitic propaganda.

Positive Role Models

Sacha stays loyal to his family while working hard to help Inquisitor Wolf. He is brave, humble, and open-minded. He originally hides the fact that he is from an immigrant Jewish family and lives in the tenements, but he ultimately learns to be proud of his identity.

Mrs. Kessler, Sacha’s mother, suffered through pogroms in Russia and lost a baby on the family’s journey to America, but she always shows a positive, strong face to her family.

Lily is a spunky and intelligent girl. She wins a baseball dare against some bullies in a great girl-power scene.

Warnings:

Similar to the Harry Potter series, The Inquisitor’s Apprentice explores the cold and dangerous side of magic. Throughout the story, a dybbuk haunts Sacha and causes death and injury to innocent people. There’s a creepy rag and bone man who makes a few appearances. Some offensive racial slurs like “piss poor shanty Irish” and very few oblique sexual innuendoes like “ogling a peep show” and “better ways to pass the time without socks on” that kids are unlikely to notice.

Topics to Discuss

Sacha is afraid to reveal his true identity to Maximillian Wolf. A lie that he tells about his family not being Kabbalists, creates even more lies that soon end up endangering his life! Have you ever told a lie that got you into trouble? Do you think there is ever a time when lying might be ok?

More for You

Kabbalah is the Jewish mystical tradition that has developed over centuries to address basic questions of God’s existence and the hidden and esoteric power of Torah and mitzvot (Jewish laws). Throughout Jewish history, the study of Kabbalah was reserved for the most learned and was often seen as controversial. Today, the definition of Kabbalah has expanded and is sometimes associated with “new age” and the occult.

Aces Wild begins where When Life Gives You O.J. (another PJOW book choice) leaves off (though it can be read as a stand-alone title).

Zelly Fried has just turned eleven. She and her family live in Vermont with her grandfather, "Ace" Greenberg, and her new dog, also called "Ace." Ace-the-grandfather is loud, eccentric, and in-your-face. Ace-the-dog is always getting into trouble. Zelly is eager to have her very first sleepover, but first Ace-the-overactive-puppy must pass his doggie obedience class. Who is the best person to help with this? Why Ace-the-grandfather, of course! Or is he?
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Ages:

Jewish Content and Values:

Positive Role Models:

Warnings:

What the Book is About:

Aces Wild begins where When Life Gives You O.J. (another PJOW book choice) leaves off (though it can be read as a stand-alone title).

Zelly Fried has just turned eleven. She and her family live in Vermont with her grandfather, "Ace" Greenberg, and her new dog, also called "Ace." Ace-the-grandfather is loud, eccentric, and in-your-face. Ace-the-dog is always getting into trouble. Zelly is eager to have her very first sleepover, but first Ace-the-overactive-puppy must pass his doggie obedience class. Who is the best person to help with this? Why Ace-the-grandfather, of course! Or is he?

Jewish Content and Values

Ace-the-grandfather peppers his conversation with spicy Yiddish words, which are explained in a kid-friendly glossary. Jewish food references (such as tzimmes, kugel, and sufganiyot) are also sprinkled throughout.

Zelly’s friend, Jeremy, wears a kippa (Hebrew for yarmulke; a flat, round head covering traditionally worn by Jewish boys and men) and eats only kosher food (food conforming to Jewish

dietary laws). He’s preparing for his bar mitzvah (a Jewish coming of age ceremony) and talks about it with Zelly.

Zelly’s family celebrates the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Ace-the-grandfather describes tzedakah as giving charity and helping those in need.

Positive Role Models

Ace is Zelly’s eccentric grandfather. He teaches Zelly patience, perseverance, and how to

take responsibility.

Jeremy is Zelly’s observant Jewish friend. He teaches Zelly to feel comfortable being

Jewish in Burlington, VT (a town with very few Jewish families). He’s a good and loyal

friend, and he always includes Zelly, even if she’s the only girl in the group.

Zelly is the protagonist of the story who works hard to achieve her sleepover goal.

Warnings:

None

Topics to Discuss

Zelly’s parents won’t let her have a sleepover with an untrained puppy in the house. When Zelly suggests that having a sleepover will be her reward for training her dog, her parents say, "Write up a proposal." Would this process work in your house?

More for You

Yiddish is a European language that combines elements of Hebrew and old German (as well as other European languages spoken by Jews). Known as the “mama loshen” (mother tongue), Yiddish was primarily spoken by Ashkenazic (Eastern European) Jews. Yiddish culture includes literature made famous by authors like Isaac Bashevis Singer and Shalom Aleichem, and music made famous by talented klezmer musicians. One of the most common Yiddish phrases in today’s English is “oy” or “oy vey”, which means “oh no!” The words “bagel” and “lox” also come from Yiddish.

Twelve year-old Rifka is the strong Jewish heroine of this historical novel. The year is 1919 and Rifka and her family are making the arduous journey from hardship in the Ukraine to freedom in America. Rifka records her adventures in a series of letters penned to her beloved cousin, Tovah, which she writes in a volume of poetry by Pushkin. When it is discovered that Rifka has ringworm, she has to stay in Belgium while her family continues the journey without her.

Using her quick mind and her capacity for language, Rifka finally makes it to America and is reunited with her family at Ellis Island.

A multi-award winning book, Letters from Rifka inspires readers to be brave and resourceful and to never give up.
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Ages:

Jewish Content and Values:

Positive Role Models:

Warnings:

What the Book is About:

Twelve year-old Rifka is the strong Jewish heroine of this historical novel. The year is 1919 and Rifka and her family are making the arduous journey from hardship in the Ukraine to freedom in America. Rifka records her adventures in a series of letters penned to her beloved cousin, Tovah, which she writes in a volume of poetry by Pushkin. When it is discovered that Rifka has ringworm, she has to stay in Belgium while her family continues the journey without her.

Using her quick mind and her capacity for language, Rifka finally makes it to America and is reunited with her family at Ellis Island.

A multi-award winning book, Letters from Rifka inspires readers to be brave and resourceful and to never give up.

Jewish Content and Values

A realistic and engaging depiction of one family’s emigration from Eastern Europe to America, complete with Yiddish phrases and precious Shabbat candlesticks.

Chutzpah (Yiddish for “audacity” or “nerve”): Rifka’s outspokenness on behalf of Ilya, a Russian peasant boy, saves Ilya’s life and her own!

Kol kvuda bat melech pnima (the beauty of the princess is within) refers to inner beauty as a Jewish value. When Rifka loses her beautiful blond curls, she realizes that her character and intelligence are far more important than superficial beauty.

Positive Role Models

Rifka shows great courage in this story, as she travels alone to America. She is clever and resourceful and shows great kindness to others. Despite her family’s past in the Ukraine, where they hated and feared Russian peasants, she is able to forgive and love Ilya, a lonely Russian peasant boy.

The people of Antwerp are kind to Rifka. The nuns treat her ringworm, and Marie and Gaston, the old couple she lives with, care for her. A Flemish milkman helps her return home when she gets lost.

Warnings:

The following could be emotionally difficult:

A Russian guard runs his hands through Rifka's hair.

Rifka and her mother are forced to undress at the Polish border as a doctor inspects Rifka in a way that makes her uncomfortable.

Rifka's friend Pieter dies in a storm on their way across the Atlantic Ocean.

Rifka has a flashback about her Uncle Zeb who was shot by Russian soldiers.

Topics to Discuss

At Ellis Island, Rifka tells the authorities, “What does it matter if my hair grows? A girl cannot depend on her looks. It is better to be clever.” Do you think she is right? Is it more important to be clever or pretty? Do you think that your answer would be different had you lived in the early 1900’s?

More for You

HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), the very same organization that helps the fictitious Rifka, continues to provide immigrant services and refugee resettlement to those seeking asylum in America. Sergey Brin, the billionaire co-founder of Google, was helped by HIAS when he and his family fled anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union and came to the U.S. in 1979. “I would have never had the kinds of opportunities I’ve had here in the Soviet Union, or even in Russia today,” Brin said in an interview. “I would like to see anyone be able to achieve their dreams, and that’s what this organization does.”

This is the perfect book for kids who love animals. When Mitzvah the mutt is adopted by the Bergers, he brings his unique doggie perspective to everything Jewish. Matza balls become edible tennis balls and Moses at the Red Sea must be another dog who loves the water. Full of puns and silly jokes, this book is pure fun!

What the Book is About:

This is the perfect book for kids who love animals. When Mitzvah the mutt is adopted by the Bergers, he brings his unique doggie perspective to everything Jewish. Matza balls become edible tennis balls and Moses at the Red Sea must be another dog who loves the water. Full of puns and silly jokes, this book is pure fun!

Jewish Content and Values

Mitzvah is the newest member of a family that celebrates traditional Jewish holidays. Seeing these holidays through a dog’s eyes gives a nice twist to the customs surrounding Shabbat, Hanukkah, and Passover.

Tsa’ar Baalei Haim (preventing the “suffering of living beings”) is a Jewish value that is underscored in this book. Mr. Ruben gives Mitzvah to the Berger family when he realizes he doesn’t have enough space for Mitzvah to play in.

Positive Role Models

Mitzvah: The word mitzvah broadly refers to an act of human kindness or a good deed. Although he’s just a dog, Mitzvah lives up to his name, demonstrating kindness and helpfulness.

Warnings:

None

Topics to Discuss

The Bergers take wonderful care of Mitzvah and always make sure he has enough to eat. Do you have any pets? What kinds of things do you have to do in order to make sure your pet stays healthy and happy?

There is a Midrash (a story told by Rabbis interpreting Biblical texts) that says that when Noah was in his ark he always fed the animals before he fed himself. Besides giving them food, what other ways can people care for animals?

More for You

Talking animals in Judaism: Jewish texts and folklore are peppered with stories about talking animals. Even the Torah (the five books of Moses) has examples of this. There is the snake that speaks to Eve in the creation story (Genesis 3:1-20), and there is also the peculiar story found in Numbers (31:16) about Balaam and his talking donkey! Balaam is a non-Israelite prophet hired by the King of Moab to curse the Israelites who are passing through his lands. But Balaam never carries out his orders because his donkey stops in its tracks and refuses to move! Balaam hits the donkey repeatedly and suddenly the donkey begins to speak, convincing Balaam to give up on his foolhardy mission. Balaam is influenced by the donkey and spontaneously declaims the beautiful poetry of “Ma Tovu,” praising the Jewish people.